70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts - Raging Pages
by Lisa Torem
published: 19 / 12 / 2024
intro
In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem examines a new photo book on 1970's Chicago rock concerts from photographer Jim Summaria and writer Mark Plotnik
I met Jim Summaria when we both covered a Johnny Winter concert more than fifteen years ago. Since that time, I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Jim, one of Chicagoland's finest concert photographers on numerous live reviews. '70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts is Jim Summaria's second book, with writer Mark Plotnick, and is emblematic of this teams' story telling savvy and cultural integrity. Readers get a backstage pass and the opportunity to rewitness the alchemy of innovative acts across the pond: The Who, The Kinks, The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, et al., through Summaria's animated, action shots and Plotnick's detailed insights, "probable concert setlists" and "musical influences who matter." Yes, the other side of the pond is also fully explored, from former James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh, Boston's creme de la creme, The J. Giels Band to virtuosic Ronnie Montrose. It's Eric Clapton honoring the legacy of Robert Johnson, B.B. King extolling the "mysteries" of the blues, a blitzed Edgar Winter, splicing tape in the control room; former Savoy Brown multi-instrumentalist Kim Simmonds, marvelling at multi-generational mingling. Moreover, Summaria and Plotnick's book sheds light, not just on the famous acts and their records, but the obscure. I was pleased to see credit given to hard-working musicians that have not sufficiently been given their due. I highly recommend '70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts. The photos pop. The ink sings. The second you turn the page, you're in the front row.
Also In Raging Pages
Beatles (2022)
Benjamin Orr (2018)
Bernard Purdie (2015)
Billy Bragg (2017)
Billy J. Kramer (2016)
Bob Boilen (2016)
Bob Dylan (2018)
Bob Marley (2019)
Brian Wilson (2017)
Byrds (2024)
Cher (2025)
Clive Davis (2015)
Common (2020)
Damned (2021)
Don Short (2020)
Donovan (2022)
Elliott Murphy (2019)
Elvis Costello (2015)
Felix Cavaliere (2022)
Flip Side (2025)
Frank Sinatra (2023)
Frank Zappa (2017)
Gary Wright (2014)
Gene Simmons (2015)
Geoff Emerick (2018)
George Harrison (2022)
George Martin (2019)
Green Day (2019)
Holger Czukay (2025)
Ian Mclagan (2016)
Iron Maiden (2014)
Jann Wenner (2019)
Jerry Lee Lewis (2015)
Jerry Nolan (2018)
Jim Summaria and Mark Plotnick (2019)
Jimmy Webb (2022)
Joe Perry (Aerosmith) (2014)
John Lennon (2017)
Kinks (2014)
Lani Hall Alpert (2019)
Laurence Juber (2014)
Liberty DeVitto (2021)
Lisa Robinson (2021)
Lita Ford (2021)
Little Anthony (2014)
Louise Harrison (2015)
Luke Haines (2024)
Manic Street Preachers (2017)
Mary Wilson (2021)
Michael Bloomfield (2020)
Michael Dorf (2019)
Miscellaneous (2014)
Ozzy Osbourne (2014)
Pamela Des Barres (2017)
Peter Doherty (2014)
Radiohead (2022)
Renee Rosen (2018)
Richard Balls (2018)
Rick Wakeman (2023)
Ringo Starr (2015)
Robby Krieger Band (2022)
Roger Daltrey (2020)
Rolling Stones (2016)
Ronnie Wood (2015)
Roy Bond (2023)
Sam Phillips (2018)
Sean Madigan Hoen (2014)
Silas House (2020)
Spencer Vignes (2017)
Spirit (2023)
Suzi Quatro (2023)
Sylvain Sylvain (2018)
Thin Lizzy (2016)
Tommy James (2021)
Tommy Mottola (2025)
Tori Amos (2020)
U2 (2021)
Who (2014)
Will Romano (2015)
Woody Woodmansey (2018)
Zz Top (2014)
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025John Philip Shenale - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Waeve - Club Academy, Manchester, 18/3/2025
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
Vapors - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Reichenbach Falls - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPAllan Clarke - Interview
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Moriarty - Interview with Dr Haze
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Robert Wyatt - Robert Wyatt
Feedback File - Interview
Au Pairs - Interview
Paul Weller - Stanley Road
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Leon Bridges - Leon
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Permafrost - The Light Coming Through
Mystery Fix - Life to Life
Various - Ambientale
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart